Courts / Dublin / Report
Convicted killer robbed casino with pellet gun
Summary
In November 2016, William Beresford, a 45‑year‑old former casino employee, was sentenced to four years in jail for robbing the Station's Sport Club on 20 August 2015. Beresford used a pellet gun to threaten colleagues and forced a staff member to open a safe, taking €4,400 that was never recovered. He had previously been convicted of manslaughter in 1999 for killing his brother and had 28 other minor convictions. Beresford surrendered to Gardaí four days after the robbery and expressed remorse, citing drug addiction as a motive. Judge Melanie Greally noted his progress in overcoming addiction but deemed the offence serious, describing the pellet gun as effectively a firearm. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on conditions including two years of probation. The case highlighted Beresford's troubled personal history, including a prior family tragedy and ongoing drug abuse.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted killer robbed casino with pellet gun. Charges or matters: manslaughter in 1999 after he killed his brother during a fight; robbery at the Station's Sport Club, Amiens Street on August 20, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- August 20, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-11-11 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: manslaughter in 1999 after he killed his brother during a fight; robbery at the Station's Sport Club, Amiens Street on August 20, 2015 (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; She handed down a four-year sentence but suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions, including that Beresford engage with probation services for a period of two years Garda Niall Kennedy previously told Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, that a staff member from the casino was outside smoking when Beresford approached him and started complaining about the owners, saying he had been let go for no reason.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Firearms Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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